Safety in the built environment

The construction industry in Ghana has evolved significantly in recent years. Technological advancement, high population and economic growth are some of the major factors that have contributed to the advancement of the industry.

High-rise buildings have sprung up in the major cities of the country, specifically in Accra. While there is no doubt about the contributions such edifices have made to the beautification of our cities, it is equally important that the safety of occupants of such buildings is addressed.

It is worth acknowledging that there exist building codes and regulations in the country. However, some property developers ignore the codes and regulations with impunity.

Perhaps some of the building codes and regulations have to be reviewed to address modern challenges or demands of the building industry and the safety of occupants.

As a nation, we have recorded a number of collapse of buildings usually brought about by poor building standards.

Despite the loss to human lives and properties associated with such collapse of buildings, the socio-economic development of the country is negatively affected as well.

It is about time stakeholder consultations were held to enforce our building codes and review outmoded laws and regulations to help minimise collapse of buildings in our country.
It is important and appropriate that all stakeholders in the built environment are involved in addressing these issues.

The building industry and the country at large have not been spared fire-related disasters.

Statistics from the Ghana National Fire Service indicate that about 6,214 fires were recorded in the country in the year 2015, with associated cost of damage running into millions of Ghana cedis.

The continuous occurrence of these fires poses a huge socio-economic strain on the economy.

The Ghana National Fire Service has intensified its public education campaign to help reduce the occurrences of these fire outbreaks.

However, fire safety is a shared responsibility and requires the efforts of all stakeholders including the public.

At the design stage of the building process, the inputs of a qualified fire safety officer must be sought by the design team to ensure that adequate fire safety measures are incorporated in our building designs.

The provision of adequate escape routes or emergency exits, assembly points, fire defence systems, etc. are a few of the technicalities a qualified fire safety officer may advise on.

Furthermore, the process with which building permits are obtained in the country is of prime concern if we are to ensure fire safety in our built environment.

Most often, building permits are issued by the Metropolitan/Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), without any inputs from the local Fire Service within the Metropolis/Municipality/District.

In many instances, building plans are approved by the estate officers of the MMDAs and the Town and Country Planning Department, without referring prospective clients to the fire officer in the locality for him to vet the safety aspect of the design and make recommendations where necessary.

Most of the fires recorded could directly or indirectly be attributed to the poor approval systems of building permits in our country.

Another interesting area worth discussing is the use of substandard materials in wiring buildings.

Research has revealed that most of the electrical fires recorded in the country have occurred due to the usage of sub-standard electrical materials and equipment in our homes and offices.

Major stakeholders in the industry are obliged to ensure that the required materials that meet standards of the country are used in buildings.

The building method is also a major concern worth discussing.

Building along the wind direction should be discouraged. This is because wind contributes significantly to the spread of fires during outbreaks.

Therefore, the direction of the wind should always be considered during the design stages.

Again, stakeholders in the built environment would have to take seriously, the issue of fire certification by the Ghana National Fire Service.

The LI 1724 – Fire Precaution (Premises) Regulations of 2003, mandates the Ghana National Fire Service to issue fire certificates to all public premises, when all safety requirements have been complied with.

The chief fire officer is empowered by LI 1724 (2003), Sections (6) and (15) to revoke the fire certificates of premises or close down premises in the event where adequate fire safety requirements have not been provided on the premises.

It is also an offence punishable by law for owners or occupants of public premises to fail to acquire a fire certificate for his/her property.

Finally, a good maintenance culture is key to ensuring safety in our built environment. The periodic rewiring of properties can go a long way to secure our properties from fire outbreaks.

In conclusion, fire safety and safety in general is a shared responsibility as earlier indicated.

Let us all play our respective roles to ensure that our country stays free from fire outbreaks, for an economy free of fire outbreaks, advances in development.

The writer is with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).